Олимпиадные задания. 11 класс.

 Insert the right articles in the gaps below. Write “—” when no article is needed.

The Enigma of Consciousness

For decades, 1) _______ human consciousness has remained one of the greatest mysteries in 2) _______ science. Although neuroscientists have mapped 3) _______ brain with remarkable precision, explaining how subjective experience arises from tissue is still 4) _______ uphill battle. Some philosophers argue that 5) _______ mind can never truly comprehend itself, while 6) _______ others believe that artificial intelligence will eventually bridge 7) _______ gap. In 8) _______ pursuit of truth, researchers are now looking at quantum mechanics for 9) _______ answers. Whether we will find them in 10) _______ near future is uncertain, but 11) _______ progress made so far offers 12) _______ glimmer of hope.

Insert the right preposition if necessary in the sentences below.

The Global Talent Crunch

Many modern corporations are currently faced 13) _______ an unprecedented shortage of skilled labor. This issue is particularly acute 14) _______ the tech sector, where demand for data scientists far exceeds supply. Companies are competing fiercely 15) _______ top-tier graduates, often luring them with perks that go well 16) _______ traditional bonuses. Experts attribute this trend 17) _______ a rapid shift toward automation, which has caught many educational institutions 18) _______ surprise. Unless universities adapt their curricula 19) _______ response to industry needs, the gap will continue to widen. For now, businesses have no choice but to invest heavily 20) _______ internal training programs to bring new hires 21) _______ to speed, even if it happens 22) _______ the expense of short-term profits.

 Keys:

I (Articles): 1) —, 2) —, 3) the, 4) an, 5) the, 6) —, 7) the, 8) the, 9) —, 10) the, 11) the, 12) a

II (Prepositions): 13) with, 14) in, 15) for, 16) beyond, 17) to, 18) by, 19) in, 20) in, 21) up, 22) at